I had amazing experiences with critters today.
As Denise was dropping me off, the sun was about to rise and there were some horses at a distance in the field across the highway. Denise remarked that it would have been a good photo to get the horses in with the sunrise. However, based on our position, they were too far south of us to get them and the sun in the same photo. After she drove off, I started heading north on US281. As is my habit, I attempted to interact with the animals. So, I whistled at the horses. To my surprise, two of them came running toward me. I decided to cross the highway to get closer. Then, two other horses started walking my way. As we got closer to each other, all of a sudden, they decided I was not who they expected. They didn't run away, but just stood their ground and watched as I started walking north again.
Almost immediately, I had in my head the spiritual significance of what just happened. To seal the deal, God kept adding to the story!
A little while later, I passed a house with a fence. I heard some dogs barking and then saw two running toward me. Again, I started whistling at them and talking to them. First one, then the other stopped barking and started wagging their tails.
A couple of hours later, I had two of the strangest encounters with animals I have had on this pilgrimage. Both encounters were similar.
I came upon a small herd of cattle and I started whistling at them. In the past, (with one VERY notable exception) all they ever did was stare at me.
In the first cattle encounter, as I whistled, a few of them initially started running toward me, then turned and started walking north parallel to the highway. Very soon, the entire herd was keeping pace with me and looking over at me every few seconds. When we reached the end of the property, I noticed there was a small feeding barn. All of the cattle gathered at the barn. I guess they thought I was bringing second-breakfast. Boy were they disappointed!
As I mentioned, the second cattle encounter was similar to the first. However, this time, the herd was larger and most of them were laying down near a small tank. Again, I started whistling. First one, then more and more got up and headed toward their barn. They weren't running like they were afraid, but rather like they were heading to their second-breakfast.
I had no idea the cattle would do what they did.
Earlier in this post, I mentioned that I almost immediately saw the spiritual significance to what I had experienced.
Jesus had several teachings about false prophets:
15 Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So then, by their fruit you will recognize them. --Matthew 7.15-20 (BSB)
9 Then they will deliver you over to be persecuted and killed, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. 10 At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another, 11 and many false prophets will arise and mislead many. --Matthew 24.9-11 (BSB)
23 At that time, if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible. 25 See, I have told you in advance. --Matthew 24.23-25 (BSB)
Paul told Timothy:
3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. --2 Timothy 4.3-4 (BSB)
Peter said:
1 Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed. 3 In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep. --2 Peter 2.1-3 (BSB)
In the events that happened to me today, it definitely seemed that when the horses heard my whistle, they initially started to "follow" me. However, they quickly and correctly discerned that I was not one to be trusted and stopped in their tracks.
On the other hand, the dogs abdicated their job as watchmen and became friendly with me.
Even worse, the cattle gladly followed me hoping for a handout.
Jesus taught about all this:
1 “Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 But the one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen for his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will flee from him because they do not recognize his voice.” --John 10.1-5 (BSB)
11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep. --John 10.11-13
Contact me if you want help with these questions:
- Do you know and can you recognize the Shepherd's voice?
- Are you like the hired hand who abandons the sheep and runs away when threatened, or are you like the good shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep?
- When persecution comes, will you be able to stand your ground, or will you fall away and betray and hate one another?
- Do you know anyone who has already turned away from sound doctrine and is following teachers who tell them what they want to hear?
Walking deets:
- - Continued north bound on US 281 to about 5 miles south of Hico, TX
- - This walk: Dist: 15.26 km; Time: 3+17; Steps: 18,220
- - Total: Dist: 477.08 km; Time: 107+43; Steps: 575,044
- - Miles from home = 188
- - Miles to Wichita Falls, TX = 157
- - Miles to Texas / Oklahoma border = 173
- - Miles to Canada = 1401
Social Media Links:
- - http://www.tenminas.net
- - www.facebook.com/10MinaMan
- - www.linkedin.com/in/budabbott
- - twitter.com/TenMinasNetwork
- - www.instagram.com/ten_minas
No comments:
Post a Comment